BC Tip #21 - Field Monitoring for D365 Business Central
- Ben Cole
- Jul 28
- 5 min read
Most Business Central users are already familiar with change logs. Think of these as a security camera. Monitoring the activity (assuming someone is watching).
Field Monitoring takes that idea a step further. Instead of checking a log after the fact, you can choose the specific fields that matter most and receive an email as soon as one changes. Think of these as the alarm system.
That makes Field Monitoring a simple, practical way to take a more proactive approach to data changes.
It is especially useful for sensitive information such as vendor bank account numbers and routing or transit numbers, where a quick notification can help prevent potentially malicious activity or make it easier to follow up on an unexpected change.
Table of Contents
Why use Field Monitoring?
Change logs provide a history of activity. Field Monitoring adds immediate notification to that history. You decide which tables and fields to track, then Business Central emails the appropriate recipient when a tracked value is updated.
This is a strong fit for information where timing matters, including:
Vendor bank account numbers
Vendor routing or transit numbers
Company bank account numbers
Company bank account routing or transit numbers
Any other critical operational fields your team needs to review quickly
The goal is not to monitor everything. The goal is to monitor the changes that need attention right away.
Set up Field Monitoring in Business Central
The setup is straightforward and only requires a couple of decisions: who receives the alerts and which email account sends them.
Search for Field Monitoring Setup.
Set the Notification Recipient. This is the email address that will receive monitoring alerts. Must be an existing user in Business Central
Select the Notification Email Account. This is the account Business Central will use to send the notification.
Select Start to enable Field Monitoring.
Prerequisite: Configure Email Accounts first
The sending email account must already be configured in Business Central before it can be used for Field Monitoring. If Email Accounts are not set up, take care of that first, then return to Field Monitoring Setup and choose the account you want to send from.
For more information on setting up your email accounts in Business Central see my blog post here (Business Central - Tip 8)
Important: Sign out and back in
After you start Field Monitoring for the first time, sign out of Business Central and sign back in. That is required for the change to take effect.
If you ever need to disable the functionality, you can return to the setup page, stop it, and start it again later as needed.
Choose the fields to monitor
Once Field Monitoring is active, open the Monitored Fields Worksheet. This is where you select the tables and fields that should trigger email notifications.
For a bank-detail monitoring scenario, you might choose:
Bank Account, Bank Account Number
Bank Account, Routing or Transit Number
Vendor Bank Account, Bank Account Number
Vendor Bank Account, Routing or Transit Number
After selecting the fields, make sure the Notify checkbox is selected for each one. That checkbox is what turns a tracked field into an email-triggering field.
This is where Field Monitoring stays focused. You can track the fields that represent a real risk or require a follow-up, rather than creating noise around every data update.
Example: Monitor vendor bank account changes
Vendor bank account changes are one of the most common and valuable use cases for Field Monitoring.
A change to an account number or routing number can be legitimate, but it is also the kind of update that should be visible immediately.
To test the configuration:
Open a vendor record.
Open the related vendor bank account.
Change the bank account number.
Change the routing or transit number.
Save the record.
As soon as the changes are saved, Field Monitoring sends the alert emails in real time. In this example, changing both the account number and routing or transit number produces two notifications.
What the email notification tells you
The alert gives you useful context right away. It identifies the field that changed, who made the update, and when the update occurred, including the date and time.
That is the value of making change tracking proactive. You are not waiting to discover an issue during a later review. You have the information needed to respond while the change is still fresh.
Use the alert to investigate or respond
The notification can help you move directly into action. You can drill into the tracked change log entry, review the affected record, or look at permissions if the user who made the update needs to be restricted further.
In practical terms, that gives you two immediate options:
Investigate the change: Confirm whether the update was expected and validate the new information.
Address access: Review and potentially tighten permissions for the user who made the change.
You also know exactly who to contact if a follow-up conversation is necessary.
A simple way to strengthen data oversight
Field Monitoring is free, quick to set up, and worth using alongside the out-of-the-box change log. It gives your team a practical alerting layer for the specific changes that carry the most operational or security risk.
For organizations that need additional change-log functionality and automated workflows, the History and Statistics and Advanced Notifications tools in the Business Central Toolbox offer further options around change tracking and notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Field Monitoring free in D365 Business Central?
Yes. Field Monitoring is available at no cost and can be used alongside the standard change log functionality in Business Central.
What must be configured before using Field Monitoring?
You need an Email Account configured in Business Central. Field Monitoring requires that account to send notification emails.
Do I need to sign out after enabling Field Monitoring?
Yes. After starting Field Monitoring for the first time, sign out and sign back in so the changes can take effect.
Can I monitor vendor bank account numbers in Business Central?
Yes. You can use the Field Monitoring Worksheet to select Vendor Bank Account fields such as Bank Account Number and Routing or Transit Number, then enable the Notify checkbox for those fields.
What information is included in a Field Monitoring email?
The notification identifies the changed field, the user who made the update, and the date and time of the change. It can also help you drill into the logged change or review the user’s permissions.
Can you have Field Monitoring and Change Logs both enabled?
Yes you can have both Field Monitoring and Change Logs activated at the same time, however, you cannot track the same field via Field Monitoring and Change Logs. If you want to track the Vendor Bank Account information via Field Monitoring you cannot also track it via Change Logs.
Ready to optimize your Business Central environment with guidance from a BC expert?
Contact Ben Cole at Ben@BenColeBC.com or (214) 433-0923.
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Ben Cole is passionate about making Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central work smarter for real people—users and partners alike. With roots in public accounting, Ben’s seen firsthand how automation and clever solutions can transform the Business Central experience. He’s known for breaking down complex topics with a dash of wit and plenty of practical advice. If you want to get more out of Business Central (and maybe even enjoy the process), Ben’s your go-to guide.
(214) 433-0923
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